Concrete mixer and conveyer.



"Patented Jai 23,1917.

S. E. PFAHLER.- concnm MIXER AND CONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20.1916.

v Say/v55 Pew 46R s. E'.- P FA HLERJ CONCRETE MIXER AND CONVEYER.

v APPLlCA TION FILED MAR20 19'6- I 1,21 3 407.v Patented J n-..23,- 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s. E. PFAHLER. CONCRETE MIXER AND CONVEYER; memory nuzn ma. 20; 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- 3 men! 01 So/m5 Paw ER anion 1 I Patented J an. 23,1917.

FFICE.

SOAME E. PFAHLER, 0F HOPEWELL, VIRGINIA.

CONCRETE MIXER AND CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,323.

To'aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SoAME E. PFAHLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Hopewell, in the county of Prince George and Stateof Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inConcrete Mixers and Conveyers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to an improved concrete mixer and conveyerand is designed primarily for the purpose of mixing and conveyingconcrete or other materials in a manner wherein a continuous feed of thematerials in predetermined quantities and a corresponding discharge ofthe mixed elements is desired, thus obviating the delay frequentlycaused in using machines of this character by stopping the mixer inorder to feed new material and discharge the mixed materials.

The'invention consists essentially in certain, novel combinations andarrangements of the mixing drum which acts as a conveyer,

whereby the materials are thoroughly mixed and commingled and conveyedto the discharge point as will be pointed out more fully hereinaften.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according tothe bestmode 1 have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the concrete mixer of my invention,complete. Fig. 2 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view of themixing drum, and its connections. Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesectional view of the drum at line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar viewat line H Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a modified form of the drum, shown in sideelevation. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of theapparatus, at line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of theendless belt and bucket, feedirg device for the mixer. Fig. 8 is a sideview of one of the buckets of the endless conveyer.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is preferably of the portabletype and is supported upon a main frame 1 with wheels 2 and 3, and thelower drop frame 4 supported upon wheels 5. The supporting frame andwheels are of any suitable type, and the apparatus may be transported bysuitable power applied to the tongue or draft bar 6,

while the tool box 7 suspended beneath the main frame is designed forcustomary uses.

The power for the machinery of the apparatus is furnished preferablyfrom the boiler 8 and steam engines 9 through the driving crank shaft10, all of which are supported on the drop frame 4 at the front of theapparatus convenient for both the feeding mechanism and the combinedmixer and conveyer.

The feeding mechanism is of the endless belt and bucket type and isdriven from the driving shaft 10 through the gear connection 11 12, belt13 and pulleys 14 and 15, the former on counter shaft 16 and the latteron the upper shaft 17 of the endless conveyer or feeder. The endlessfeeder comprises the usual buckets and traveling belt or chains, but Iutilize these buckets in three series as indicated in Fig. 7 at 18, 19,20, and these series of buckets are designed to pass through the threeseparated compartments 21, 22, 23 of the feed hopper 2 1, and scoop updifferent materials for the concrete mixture, such as cement, sand, andgravel, and deliver them to the feed hopper 25, supported at the upperend of the frame 26, from whence the ingredients or materials for theconcrete mixture are passed to the mixer and conveyer. It will beunderstood that the sand cement and gravel are fed into their respectivecompartments in the feed hopper 24, as from a wheel barrow, or byshovelfuls, and the quantity of the materials to be conveyed by theseries of buckets may be Varied on account of the construction of thebuckets. In Fig. 8 it will be noted that the bucket 18 has an adjustablebottom 18 so that its capacity may be varied, and the hinged lid 18permits of accessibility in adjusting thebottom. By means of the eye18", two of which are attached to each bucket, the bucket may beattached to the belt 17' as usual. By the utilization of these bucketsof varyingcapacity I am enabled to furnish the required 'amount ofcement, gravel and sand in the proper proportions,

regardless of the quantity desired. The feed hopper or feed trough 24 isattached to the drop frame 1 by means of a U-shaped frame 27, which isequipped with two cross arms 28 and 29, and by means of bolts 30 isattached to the drop frame. The feed hopper 25 is provided with atransverse arched partition 31 under which the materials for the mixturepass as the buckets empty their contents in the hopper, and at thispoint the required water is introduced to the material through thenozzle 31' which is supported from the feed hopper and to which asuitable hose is attached. Thus the required water is mixed -with thematerials, not in bulk, but before they become massed, and as thematerials are being fed to the mixer so that all materials arethoroughly and uniformly moistened as required, and to much betteradvantage than if the water were introduced only in the mixer.

From the feeding device the materials for the concrete are passedthrough the feed hopper to the mixing drum 32. This drum is of usualmetallic construction and of suitable dimensions, cylindrical in crosssection and provided with a tapering extension 33 diminishing indiameter toward the discharge end or nozzle 34. The drum is revolublysupported in journal bearings 35 and 36 at its respective ends, theframes of the bearings being supported from the main frame 1, and acentral support 37 including the rollers 38 is provided to preventsagging and provide for a stable movement of the drum as it is revolved,on ring 38.

The front or inlet end of the drum is provided with a head 39, attachedto the drum by rivets 40, and the head is fashioned with a reducedbarrel or throat 41 into which the feed hopper 25 projects and throughthe materials for the concrete are introduced.

An open gear ring or gear wheel 42 is attached, as by bolts 43, to theflange 44 of the barrel 41, and through the medium of this wheel, andthe pinion 44: on the crank shaft 10, the drum is revolved,'clockwise,in order to mix, and convey the concrete mixture toward the dischargeend or nozzle 34.

VVithiIr the drum and its tapered extension is attached a screw orspiral conveyer plate or flange 45, which extends continuously from theinlet end of the drum to the outlet or discharge end thereof, andconforms to the interior shape of the drum and its extension. The spiralflange, it will be noted is approximately the same width throughout itslengths, and the convolutions I are equidistant, and arranged to convey,or

cause to flow, the contents from the inlet end toward the outlet ordischarge end of the drum, and at the same time permit of a freemovement of the mass between the convolutions or coils of the spiralconveyer. \Vhen the materials are fed into the drum at the right end-inFig. 2 they are agitated and mixed by the rotation of the drum itselfand also by the movement of the spiral flange or ribbon, and the actionof the spiral flange urges the mass toward the outlet end of the drum.However, the tapering extension of the drum prevents the mass frommoving forward too quickly, and masses of the mixture are beingcontinuously turned back into the drum proper for further mixing andcommingling, because of thedifference in capacity of the drum and itsextension. In this manner the spiral flange in the drum is continuouslyforcing toward the outlet of the drum, a larger mass than can beaccommodated by the tapering extension, with the consequence that onlythe desired quantity is discharged from the outlet, while the mass ofmaterials in the drum is being continuously and thoroughly agitated andmixed.

The width of the flange 45 may be varied so that either end of the drumwill move larger quantities than the other, as for instance in themodification of the drum shown in Fig. 5. Here, the cylindrical casingand tapering extension are disposed of and the mixer comprises a hollowscrew shaped drum 32 with' a tapered screw shaped extension 33, and itwill be noted that the lands 34' of the drum 32 are wider or deeper thanthe lands 35 of the extension 33. v

As the concrete mixture flows from the discharge nozzle 34 it may bedisposed of as desired, but I have illustrated a discharge hopper 46fashioned with a front gate 47 and pivoted at 48 in the standards orbrackets 49 projecting upwardly from the frame 1. By means of theadjustable pivoted links 50, one at each side of the discharge hopper,the latter may be held in desired position. lVhen not in use, the link50 may be released by detaching the nuts 51, and then the dischargehopper may be swung on its pivot 48 so that it covers the dischargeopening 3-l of the drum.

What I claim is The combination in a concrete mixing and conveyingdevice with a revoluble drum having an inlet opening and an imperforatetapered extension having} an axial outlet opening, said drum andextension each hav ing a spirally arranged imperforate flange on itsinner wall of uniform width uniformly spaced to form a closed wallarranged within the conveyer from end to end thereof and having a freeopen central space, the conveying capacity of the drum being greaterthan the capacity of the extension.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature SOAME E. PFAHLER.

